Steven Gerrard is ‘most influential Premier League player ever’

Steven Gerrard has been hailed as the most influential player in Premier League history, by his Liverpool team-mate
Jamie Carragher.

The dynamic midfielder came off the bench at half-time and grabbed a quick-fire treble as the Reds came from behind to beat Napoli 3-1 in their Europa League clash at Anfield on Thursday.

Is Steven Gerrard the Premier League’s top player? (PA)

It was far from the first time that Gerrard had rescued Liverpool and Carragher believes he is now worthy of a place among the greats.

Liverpool may have had players of the calibre of Kenny Dalglish , Ian Rush and Kevin Keegan during their glory years, but the central defender believes none of them can match the modern-day Anfield hero, who he regards as the most important footballer of the Premier League era.

‘Stevie is just an unbelievable talent, we all know that. We have seen him do things like he did last night time and again during his career,’ Carragher told the Liverpool Echo.

‘But he keeps on producing when it matters and, to me, that makes him the best player the club has ever had and the most influential player ever in the Premier League.’

Carragher’s praise comes after Gerrard was a surprise name in the Observer’s greatest ever XI, although he missed out on a place on the 23-man shortlist for Fifa’s Ballon d’Or award.